One of the worst things that can happen to a startup would be for the entire company to experience how cruel technology can be, and how brutal it can be when RAID servers fail. As we evolve we find ourselves depending on technology more and more.

Data loss is much more than just a failed RAID array.

Data loss is much more than just a failed RAID array.

Heck, most people can’t remember a phone number anymore because we’re so used to selecting who we want to call from a list that lives on a device we carry in our pockets. There have been several news stories about leaks of information from large companies like Sony and Ashley Madison. Not only is it damaging to the reputation of a company just starting out, it’s a huge mess that no one really wants to deal with.

You’ve got to make sure that your company, no matter the size, is prepared for data loss. It’s not always the fault of the machines, either. Sometimes you have new employees or disgruntled ex-employees that you need to protect your assets from:

Your employees have access to important information that could easily be compromised (intentionally or unintentionally).  In order to ensure that they’re aware of the potential breaches, how to handle information and passwords, and what to do if they suspect suspicious behavior, you’ll need to train them on a continual basis. Training annually, having policies and procedures in a general area and having staff sign off on contracts is a surefire way to keep everyone on the same page.

It’s a digital world we live in. While technologies and software make it easier for us to do business, it also opens the doors for potential threats.

Via: http://ventureburn.com/2016/05/startup-prepared-catastrophic-data-loss/

You want to make sure that you can rest easy and be confident in your staff. It’s far better to be proactive to a situation than reactive. You don’t want to be scrambling and fumbling with your clients when your business’ reputation is on the line. When you’re a new startup you need to have all your bases covered and be prepared to deal with any situation. This is how you will build a strong reputation for quality work.

Obviously, you want to be even more confident in your server technology. Running enterprise level RAID 50 servers or large Exchange machines is a huge responsibility. The article from Ventureburn continues:

When files are created and software is installed on your company server, is the information being backed up? All too often, businesses make the mistake of assuming that a saved document will always be there. The truth is, if the system was to be wiped out or even accidentally deleted, there is no getting it back.

All companies should back up their data. This way if there is a security breach you won’t have to waste time and money trying to recreate the pertinent information. There are several ways a company can assure their data is backed up. This includes saving everything to a physical device (i.e. a USB flash drive), setting up backup features through Microsoft, or storing all information in the cloud.

Cloud backup services are fantastic, but nothing beats an onsite backup server. Being able to log off the failing RAID array and onto a new one in case of array or single drive failure is something everyone needs. And if you don’t have that, you’re definitely going to need a data recovery service. Make sure you’ve got some kind of data recovery service provider on speed dial – every minute counts when it comes to major server failures.

Tape backups still do work, but who has the time for them? What’s more, the horrible thing about backup tapes is that they, too, fail. It is old school, but we do offer LTO tape recovery (see here: https://www.harddriverecovery.org/tape-data-recovery/).

Stay vigilant with your company’s systems, and have multiple backups, but remember that a good RAID recovery service is easily the best way to “backup your backup”!